Phonographic warning device



B. F. FREEBLE.

PHONOGRAPHIC WARNING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED. NOV. 25, 1919- PatentedMay 30, 192-2.

2 SHEET$SHEET I.

B. F. FREEBLE. PHONOGRAPHIC WARNING DEVICE. APPLICATION. EILED NOV- 25,1919.

2 SHEETSSHEEI -2- a. Z G 0 a 6 3 3 0 Patented May 30, 1922.

PAT

BENJAMIN F. FREEBLE, OFBRDWNSVILLE, PENNSYLVKNIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HAL II TO JOHN MATTAQOF BROWNSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.-

PHONOGRAPHIC WARIilING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented May 30 1922;

Application filed November 25; 1919. Serial No-3 40,516.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. FREE- BLE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Brownsville, in the count-y of Fayette and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements. inPhonographic Warning Devices, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to signalling devices, and particularly tosignalling devices including a sound reproducer and a phonographicrecord associated therewith.

The general object of this invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which includes a sound record, a sound reproducer, and anamplifying horn, the sound record having thereon one or more recordgrooves, each groove having thereon a phonauto ram adapted to cause thereproduction 0 articulate words of a certain warning signal.

Another object in this connection is to provide means whereby any one ofthe several phonautograms may be selected and used so that the samedevice or mechanism may be used for uttering any one of a plurality ofwarning signals.

A further object is to provide a mechanism of this character soconstructed that the same warning signal may be repeated time after timeso long as the operator desires. 4

A further object is to provide a record having a plurality of recordtracks or phonautograms thereon, to provide a plurality of styluses'operating, one with each of said tracks or phonautograms, and providevery simple means wherebyi any one of these 'styluses may be renderedactive, the others remaining inactive so as to thereby reproduce any oneof the warning signals desired.

Another object is to provide a construction of this character whereinthe motor for operating the record, and the sound reproducing mechanismare embodied within a single unit, the sound reproduolng mechanism beingdisposed Within an amplifying horn. 1

And a further-object is to provide a mechanism of this character inwhich the selected mechanism is controlled by one or more electricbuttons, and wherein; the operation of the record driving motor iscontrolled by an electric button.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description. I

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein IFigure 1 is a longitudinal sectionaljview of a phonographic signalconstructed in accordance with my invention, this figure also showingthe Wiring connections;

Figure 2 is a face view of the phonographi'c record;

Figure 3 is an inside face view of the sound box showing a portion ofthe record in section;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail View showing the mounting of one of thestyluses and showing the record in section:

Figure 5 is a wiring diagram of the electrical connections.

Referring to these drawings, it will be seen that my signallingmechanism consists essentially of an amplifying horn 10, which ispreferably of metal. though it'might be made of other material, andwhich is contracted towards its inner end and at its innor end isprovided with the unitary, cylindrical, or other shaped casing 11,wherein is disposed an electric motor comprising field magnets andwindings 12 and the armature 13. This electric motor is of any suitableand usual construction and requires no special description. The armatureshaft 14 carries on its extremity a pinion 15. The

power for the motor will preferably be taken from a battery, as will bela-ter'explained.

Mounted within the horn in any suitable manner, as upon suitablesupporting brackets, is a longitudinal shaft 16 carrying.

a relatively large gear wheel 17 engaged by the pinion 15 and this shaft15 carries a relatively small bevelled pinion 18 engaging with arelatively large bevelled pinion 19 mounted upon .a shaft 20 which istransverse to the shaft 16, and extends-overto one side of the horn.Mounted upon a shaft 21 also carried by the horn is the recordsupporting. turn table 22, the periphery of which is formed with gearteeth which mesh with a.

relatively small pinion 23 carried upon the shaft 20. It will thus beseen that I have provided means for rotating the turn table 22 and therecord carried thereby at a relatively low speed, though the armatureshaft will rotate at a relatively'high speed. Of

tracks shall be relatively wide and relastructed in any ordinary orusual manner.-

pedestrians or to other cars.

The turn table 22 carries upon it a record having formed in its face twoor morerec ord grooves or phonautograms 24. Each of these grooves formsa complete circle-and each groove or phonautogram is entirely separatefrom and independent from any other groove or phonautogram. One of thephonautograms may be oi the words Look out, or the phrase Get out of theway, or some phrase of like implication, and is designed to be used ifthe automobile is moving straight ahead and as a warning to The secondtrack, groove, or phonautogram may have thereon the honautogra hicrecord'of such a word as ft, or sue a phrase as Going to the left, whilethe third record may have the phonautographic reproduction thereon ofsuch a word as Right. or Going to the right. Of course, I do not wish tobe limited to these particular phrases, as they are merely indicative ofthe phrases which might be used in connection with the signal. Thavedesignated these three phonautographic tracks or phonautograms as a, band 0 respectively. These tracks may be disposed relatively close to theperiphery of the record or equidistantly from the periphery towards thecenter of the record, and it is intended that these tively deep. In"other words, shall be magnified beyond the size of ordinaryphonautograms so as to "secure a large amplitude of vibration for thereproducing needle or stylus and secure a large volume of sound issuingfrom the amphfying horn. This phonographic record will preferably bemade of metal, though not necessarily so. It is obvious that delicacyofenunciation and accuracy of tonal value is not required in a device ofthis kind. The main thing'is that the volume of sound shall be large andthat the word or words shall be clearly enunciated. For the purpose ofreproducing the sound, I mount within the amplifying horn 10 or thecasing forming the base of said born, a sound box 25 which maybe con-The phonographic recor or phonautograms a, b and c are supposed to behill and dale records as distinguished from laterally cut records, but Idonot wish to be limited to this. I have illustrated'the sound box asbeing constructed to operate with a hill and dale record, but theprinciple of this sound box may be equally well applied to a laterallycut record. The sound box may be constructed in any suitable manner, butis' provided with a diaphragm 26 having the at 28. Beyond the pivotalpoint of this lever, there is provided a cross bar 29, and

pivoted upon this cross barare three styluses 30*, 30 and 30 coactingwith the three grooves a, b and 0. Each stylus is loosely mounted uponthe cross bar 29, but is illustrated as extending beyond the cross barand formed to provide an armature 31. Coacting with each armature is asmall electro-magnet 32. Now when any one of these electro-magnets isenergized, it will draw the upper end of the corresponding stylusagainst the magnet and this will cause the stylus toextend stifily fromthe cross bar 29. Ti the stylus is held by the electro-magnet 32 fromany movement relative to the cross bar. then it is obvious that thevibrations communicated to this stylus from the record will becommunicated to the lever 27 and thus to the diaphragm 26. If, however,any one of the 'or 30, 1 provide in convenient relation to the driversseat, and preferably upon the steering post, a plate 33 or other supporthaving therein three circuit closers in the form of push buttons,designated 34, 34 and 34, each of these buttons controlling one of thema nets 32. These buttons may be of any desired form, and l haveillustrated a conventional form of circuit closing switch, designatedgenerally 34, and from each circuit closer a conductor 36 extends to thecorresponding magnet, and from each magnet extends a conductor 37 whichis electrically connected to the battery. 10f courseQa wire 38 alsoextends from each cir- -cuit closer to the battery. Thus, when any onebutton is depressed, the circuit will be closed from the battery throughthe button to the corresponding electro-magnet 32.

,This will render the corresponding needle or stylus active and thus thecorresponding record a, b, or 0 will be reproduced, provided the recordtabletand turn table are being rotated.

The rotationof the record turn table is controlled preferably by thecircuit closer 34, 34 or 35 controlling the passage of current to themagnets 32, and to this end I have shown the conductors 37 as beingconnected to a common conductor 39' leading to one of the brushes of theelectric inotor 12 while a conductor 40 from the electric motor leads tothe battery A. Thus, it will be seen that when any one of. thecircuitclosers are depressed to close a circult through thecorresponding magnet, the cirtor-vehicles, motor boats, power boats, and

is alsoadapted to be used for the sounding or uttering of fire alarmsignals, in which case, of course, the record turn table or tablet willcontain a series of phonautograms adapted to reproduce different signalnumbers as the record is rotated. Thus, the operator by selecting theproper record and depressing the corresponding button, as prevouslydescribed, will cause the machine to utter the signal number in a loudand greatly amplified tone which may be of sufiicient volume as to warna village or town of fire and the location of the fire. "The device maybe used in other situations wherever it is desired to give a certainsignal and repeat that signal for an'indeiinite period at the will ofthe operator.

While 1 have. illustrated a particular arrangement of parts andparticular details of construction, I do not wish to be limited tothese, as it is obvious that many changes might be made in the detailsof the construction and arrangement of parts Without departing from thespirit of the invention as defined in the appendedv claims.

I claim e 1. An audible warning signal mechanism for motor carsincluding a phonographic record having thereon a plurality of circularphonautographic grooves, each formed to reproduce words of warning, anelectric m0- tor for driving said record, a sound box having adiaphragm, a plurality of styluses associated with the sound box anddiaphragm and each adapted to operatively engage one of said grooves,and manually controlled means for closing a circuit through said motorand simultaneously rendering any selected one of the styluses operativeto transmit sound vibrations or disconnecting the motor from a source ofenergyand 'simultaneosulyrendering the previously operative stylusinoperative to transmit sound vibrations. V v

2. An audible warningsignal mechanism for motor cars including aphonograph record having thereon a circular phonautographic grooveformed to reproduce Words of warning, an electric motor for driving therecord, a sound box havi a diaphragm, a stylus carried by the souiidboxand engaging said groove and normally out of operative engagement withthe diaphragm, and

manually controlled means for causing the stylus to shift into soundreproducing engagement with the diaphragm and simulenergy or releasingthe stylus from its oper'ative engagement with the diaphragm oftaneously connect the motor with a source of l the sound box andsimultaneously discon necting the motor from its source of energy.

3. An audible signal mechanism including a single phonograph recordhaving thereon a plurallty of circular phonautographic grooves, eachformed to reproduce words of warning, an electric motor for driving saidrecord, a single sound box having a diaphragm, a plurality of stylusescarried by the sound box and engaging the several grooves but normallyout of engagement with the diaphragm, manually operable means associatedwith each stylus for caus-v ing the corresponding stylus to shift intosound reproducing engagement with the diaphragm and simultaneouslyconnect the motor with a source of energy or cause the release of thecorresponding stylus and the simultaneous disconnection of the motorfrom the source of energy.

4. An audible warning signal mechanism for motor cars including aphonograph rec-'- ord having thereon a, circular phonautographic grooveformed to reproduce words of warning, an electric motor for driving saidrecord, a sound box having a dia phragm, a plurality of styluses carriedby the sound box and each adapted to engage a corresponding groove, saidstyluses being normally out of operative engagement with the diaphragm,electro-magnetically actu ated means for operatively engaging eachstylus with the diaphragm when the electro-magnet means is energized,and manually operable means for simultaneously energizing any one ofsaid electro-magneticallyl actuated means and the motor orsimultaneously ale-energizing the electro-magnetic means and the motor.7

, 5. An audible signal mechanism including a'phonographic record havingthereon a plurality of independent, circular, phonautographic tracks, anelectric motor for driving the record disposed in a normally interruptedcircuit with a source of power,

a sound box, a plurality of Styluses all connected to the sound box andeach associated with one of said grooves, all of said styluses beingnormally out of sound reproducing engagement with its correspondinggroove, manually operable means for simultaneously shifting any one ofsaid Styluses into sound reproducing engagement with its correspondinggroove and closing a circuit through the electric motor.

6. An audible signal mechanism including a phonographic record havingthereon a plurality of independent,- circular, phonautographic tracks,eachreproducing cerltl tain warning signals, an electric'motor l'ordrlvmg said record, a sound reproducer associamd with the recordincluding a reproducer arm, a plurality of Styluses loosely mounted uponsaid arm, each associated with one of said tracks and each normallybeing inactive, and manually controlled means for connecting the motorwith a source of current and simultaneously rendering any one of saidstyluses active and operatively engaged with the sound reproducing armto cause the transmission of vibrations from the corresponding stylus tosaid arm or disconnecting the motor from the source of current andsimultaneously rendering the heretofore active arm inactive.

7. An audible signal mechanism including a phonographic record havingthereon a plurality of independent, circular, phonautographic tracks,each adapted to utter a certain warning signal, an electric'motorconnected to said record to drive it, a sound reproducer including adiaphragm, and a reproducer arm coacting therewith, a plura ityoistyluses each pivoted to said arm and each normally resting looselyonthe record, and manually controlled means for connecting the electricmotor to a source of energy and rendering any one ofsaid styluses rigidwith the arm to thereby cause.

the transmission of vibrations from the said stylus to the diaphragm i8. An audible signal mechanism including alphonographic record havingthereon a plu ality of independent, circular, phonautographic tracks,each adapted to utter a certain warning signal, an electric motorconnected to said record to drive it, a sound reproducer including adiaphra, and a re producer arm coacting therewith, a plural -ity ofstyluses each pivoted to said arm and each normally resting loosely onthe record,

and manually controlled means for connect-=- tro-magnets, eachassociated wit ing the electric motor to'a source of energy andrendering any oneof said Styluses rigid with the arm to thereby causethe transmis-' sion of vibrations from the said stylus to the aphonographic record having thereon a plu-. rality. of independent,circular, phonautographic tracks, each adapted to reproduce a certainwarning'signal, an electric motor therefor, a sound reproducer includinga diaphragm, and a reproducer arm, a \plurahty of styluses pivotallymounted on the reproducer arm and resting loosely upon the record andassociated each with one of the phonautographic tracks, a pluralit ofelecsaid Styluses and .adapted, when energized to render the stylusrigid w th the arm, each all said electro-magnets being connected in aninterrupted circuit with a source of energy, and manually controlledmeans for closing the circuit through any one of said one of magnets tothe source of energy and shunt taneously closing the circuit through theelectric motor and the source of energy.

7 10., The combination with a'phonographiie record having thereon aplurality of record tracks, each track being endless and disposedapproximately concentric'to the center of rotation of the record, of asingle sound her, and a plurality of styluses operatively connected tothe sound box and associated each with one of. the record tracks, therebeing means whereby any one of said styluses maybe rendered active. g

ln testimony whereof I hereunto afix my signature.

. ush

